Some of my readers in this city having intimated that a more extended statement, or description, of the terrible freshet spoke of at the close the preceding chapter would be desirable, I will endeavor to give some idea of it by comparison and otherwise. Having carefully noted every great rise in the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers, since that time, I hesitate not to say that in all places where their waters were confined within their banks, within ordinary limits, they were a full six feet higher than the highest freshet that has since occurred. All the way from the foot of the Dalles down to the present Chippewa bridge, the water poured over the west bank of the river into the depression beyond, in sufficient depth to float the largest logs; and from Reverend Mr. Kidder's residence down to the present Pioneer block, logs and driftwood lay high upon the slope, being checked by the trees, while the entire flat between that bank and the river was many feet under water. The mark on some, which I noticed at one time during the ensuing summer, indicated that they were out of the Eau Claire River. The ground, on which Shaw and Galloway's foundry and machine shop now stands, was at least ten feet under water. The entire farm of Mr. Yates, opposite the Blue Mill, was inundated, six to ten feet. Some of the heaviest timbers, and heavily ironed wheels belonging to the mill that was carried away at Eau Claire, floated across the bottom and lodged high upon the slope of the hill back of Potterville, the whole country from bluff to bluff being underwater. The Indians will now claim our attention. Many of the collisions between the hostile band of Sioux and Chippewa, during the time covered by this history, have created so little interest among the white settlers, that it is difficult to obtain definite and positive information in regard to them. In most instances, too, these encounters are utterly unworthy the name of fighting. Nothing can be more dastardly, or better calculated to induce a mean, cowardly disposition, than their mode of conducting war, assassination or murder, better defines their treacherous, stealthy, fiendish butcheries than any other terms. In 1840, a party of Sioux were thus waylaid near the Red Cedar River, and entirely cut to pieces; and in November of the same year, a party of six, belonging to the opposite belligerent, was cut off in the same way. The following year, a large party of Sioux came up by invitation of the Chippewas to Eau Claire, where they held a treaty of peace with their hereditary foes. Among them were the great chiefs, Wabasha, Red Wing and Big Thunder. Their first meeting took place at the Falls, about sunset, and was a rather informal, owing to some misunderstanding as to the place of the meeting. The writer was present and heard part of the Reception Address, and subsequently learned from Ambrose - one of the interpreters - the substance of what was said on both sides. The Sioux remained mounted on their ponies during the entire interview. The Chippewa Chiefs and braves were painted after their mode indicating peace, and the head Chief advanced towards their guests with a large red pipe, made of stone from the Pipestone Mountain, in one hand, and in the other a hatchet, which was thrown with considerable force so as to partially bury it in the earth; then raising the pipe to his mouth and taking a whiff or two and turning the stem towards the Sioux Chief presented it for his acceptance. All this was done in silence; the Sioux Chief received the emblem of peace also in silence, smoke a few whiff's, bowed respectfully as he handed the pipe, reined his pony one step to the right, and waited the next salutation. The substance of which was, "Friends we are glad you have come, we are anxious to make peace with the Sioux nation. As you have seen us throw down and bury the hatchet, so we hope you are inclined to make peace." The Sioux Chiefs then threw down whatever arms they held and declared their purpose to maintain permanent peace. They said their Great Father, the President, with whom they had never been at war, had requested them to conclude a lasting peace with the Chippewa Nation; and although they had sold their lands on the east side of the Mississippi, they still wanted to hunt there, and were glad that in the future they could do so without fear. This was all done through interpreters; several of who were present on each side, and closed every sentence they repeated with the expression of 'That's what we say.' The delegation met a much larger number of Chippewa Chiefs and braves the next day at Chippewa City where the ceremonies were still more imposing, and a diner was served of which both parties partook. The demonstrations were so earnest, and seemed so sincere, that outsiders really supposed the hitherto mortal enemies had become fast friends. But in the summer of 1849, an event occurred that showed that one party to this treaty reposed very little confidence in the faith of the other. It will, however, be necessary to relate some intervening circumstances, before we reach this. During the summer of 1848, a wealthy merchant of Galena, by the name of Bloomer, sent some agents up the Chippewa to select a site for a sawmill, and immediately came on with a large force and commenced operations. The site fixed upon was the lower chain of the Eagle Rapids, on the site of the present dam. The men brought along to execute the work, were mostly form the Wisconsin River, and at their head was the reckless and notorious Timm Hurley, and another hard case by the name of Tim Inglar, and several others of like temperament. To secure hay for the winter, some of these men were sent up on the meadows in the neighborhood of Vanville, and hence the name of Bloomer was given to the prairie and town. Before winter came on, Mr. Bloomer got discourage and sold the whole thing out to H.S. Allen at the Falls, and the project of building the mill on the Eagle Rapids was thenceforth abandoned. Bloomer himself returned to Galena, but his men were all turned over with the teams and supplies to Allen, that is if they chose to stay, which most of them did. Hurley was married and built a house and saloon at the Falls, the first ever started in this valley, which soon became the headquarters of every gambler and hard case, in the upper valley, amongst others, a Frenchman, named Martial Caznobia, who on the 4th of July, of this year 1849 with a crowd of these fellows having imbibed pretty freely of 'benzine,' repaired to the wigwam of an Indian then camping near the Falls, wherein the Frenchman attempted some liberties with the Indian's squaw, which was promptly resented, and drawing a dirk-knife, he instantly drove it to the handle in the body of the would be violator of his home. The wound was a very dangerous one, bleed profusely, and was thought the next morning to be positively fatal. It was Sunday morning, a great crowd assembled around, and at the Hurley House, where Caznobia was supposed to be dying, when some one raised the cry, 'let's hang the d____d Indian,' and no quicker said than done. A rope procured, and headed by Tim Inglar a rush was made for the Indian's residence, a noose formed around his neck, the rope thrown over the limb of a pine tree, standing near the site of the Union Lumber Company's store, the weight of several of these desperate men was thrown upon the other end of the rope, and the body of the Indian soon dangled between heaven and earth, a lifeless corpse. Mr. Allen remonstrated in vain against these outrages, well knowing it would involve the whole settlement in danger; and threatening demonstrations were very soon made by the Indians who assembled to the number of 1,500, determined to burn the place unless the murderers of their brother were surrendered to them. And only the commanding influence over, and great esteem in which Mr. and Mrs. Allen were held by their Chiefs restrained them. After much delay and full explanations had been made in which the offenders disclaimed any intentional wrong against the Chippewa Nation, that it was caused by whiskey, and they were sorry, now, the Chiefs and braves became somewhat mollified, and agreed that the ring leaders only should be molested, and they might be tried and punished according to our laws; upon which Tim Inglar, and three others surrendered themselves prisoners, and were placed on board of a boat to be taken to Prairie du Chien for trial. Eight Chippewa braves volunteered to escort them down the river. As the party approached that point on the Chippewa, 'half a days march from the Falls,' alarm and terror seized the brave escorts, and nothing could induce them to go another rod, in such constant dread were they of the Sioux, who twenty months before had promised eternal friendship. The prisoners however continued their journey to Prairie du Chien, and surrendered themselves to the Sheriff of Crawford County, to await an examination, but as there was no one to appear against them, they were discharged. They took good care, however, not to be seen on the Chippewa River again. To the credit of 'Hole-in-the -Day' and all the chiefs and braves assembled at the Falls on this occasion to obtain redress for a flagrant wrong done to one of their people, it must be said they behaved with great moderation. All the young braves were forbidden under sever penalties to taste a drop of whiskey during their entire stay in the Falls, more than a week, and no predations upon any of the whites were permitted, the only levy being for sufficient food to subsist them until the difficulty was amicably settled, when they retired peaceably to their several abodes up the river, dinner having been served, and a few cheap presents distributed among them, by Mr. and Mrs. Allen. Caznobia recovered and also left the country for the country's good.

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